I miss you... [8/52] by Ryan

come home.

Goodnight, Brisbane! [7/52] by Krysta

It's been a great week! On Saturday myself and fellow Canadian Priya honoured the Olympic games by going ice skating! We wore Vancouver 2010 gloves as we skated around the rink. On Sunday, rather than celebrating Valentines Day I woke up bright and early to head to work. Have I ever mentioned the fact that I love my job? My very first layover took me to my former home... Brisbane, Australia! It was a long 15 hour flight, but we made it! Once we landed I could barley contain my excitement.... I was back in Australia! I always told myself that this day would come. A few years ago I was working 2 full time jobs, desperate to pay for flights to Australia, and now here I was... getting paid to be there. It was an amazing feeling. I spent the first day wandering the city, taking photos of the places that I used to spend my days, eating sushi, and loving life. The next morning I woke up bright and early to head to Auckland, New Zealand. I was really looking forward to it, as I'd never been there before! We got to the airport, boarded the plane and were waiting for our passengers when we got the bad news that there would be a 2 hour delay. We hung out in the cabin waiting for more information. Eventually, the Captain informed us that the flight had been cancelled and that we'd be returning to our hotel. I must admit, I was quite disappointed, but I reminded myself that I was still in Australia, things weren't so bad! Unfortunately, it was a rainy day... in fact, the rainiest day that Brisbane has experienced in 9 years! The rain poured down the entire day as residents and businesses dealt with flooding. I decided to brave the weather. I invested in an umbrella, headed across the bridge, and took a few photos. The rain started falling heavier and I was forced to return to the hotel for the safety of my camera. $5 umbrellas aren't entirely reliable. The rain finally stopped just after midnight. I took advantage of this by grabbing my camera and venturing out into the city late at night. Along the way I stopped for pancakes... delicious at 2 am! I wandered the city until around 4 am before heading to the hotel to call it a night. I enjoyed one more afternoon in Brisbane eating sushi and drinking bubble tea before the long overnight flight back home to Dubai. I can't believe they pay me for this!

Strobist [7/52] by Ryan

Tonight while talking to Krysta to late as usual, I headed up to bed only to notice the vast ammounts of fog outside. I suited up in my best for the blistering cold temperatures outside. So cold my new Flash Wave 2 slaves were reduced from a range a couple  hundred feet, down to 10 feet. I think it was the moisture in the air making it feel much colder out. All I know is that my hands were FREEZING. brrr.

Anyways, after having little sucess with my rwireless flash transmitters, I opted to go sit in the shot and fire the flash myself. Worked great.

Time to head to bead, I'm beat. SO tired. Not looking forward to the gym tomorrow. That's for sure!

Livin' the Dream [6/52] by Krysta

Livin' The Dream [6/52] - When I'm working, I work hard. I run up and down the aisles of the aircraft serving hundreds of passengers on crazy overnight flights. I love my job. When I'm not working, I find myself with a lot of down time. After a turnaround flight to Istanbul earlier this week, I've had a few days off to do absolutely nothing, and that's exactly what I've done. I spent 2 days lazy around my apartment... cleaning and talking to Ryan online. Today I spent some time lying by the pool before heading to the beach with friends. I love the sun, I love the sand, I love my job.... I love my life!

Canada Rocks [6/52] by Ryan

This week I prepared for my first snowboarding trip out to the mountains in almost 3 years. I'm amazed it's been that long but the last couple years i've just been so tied up with school and life that I never made time for the old Burton Snowboard from 1997.

Yes, in 1997 I was in grade 7 and 12 years old when I bought this snowboard setup for ~$650. Over 12 years later, I'm still riding the same board, boots and bindings. It all still fits. The only issue I seem to have is with SINKING. I was about 60lbs lighter back in those days and it was quite easy for me to ride the powder. Now I sink right in and endo right over into the snow. Great. 

It's still a really fun board to ride and easy to turn and do tricks on. I love this snowboard.

The trip took us out to Kicking Horse which is a nice little (BIG) ski hill near Golden, B.C. It's about a 4 hour drive and I met up with my friends in Golden around 8pm to have some supper whlie we watched the opening ceremony of the olympics out in Vancouver about 7-8 hours away.  It was mezmorizing and we sat there amazed as what looked to be whales, swam through the water in BC Place and spouted water up in to the stadium air. It was great to watch even though there were a few technical issues with hydrolics and the flame.

Back at our condo we had a patio with a hottub that got MUCH use over the course of the weekend. It was great to come back from a day of boarding and have a beer while soaking in the hot tub. Not to mention the amazing food and great friends.

I taught one of the girls how to snowboard that morning and she was carving within the first hour of teaching. I can't wait to teach Krysta to snowboard someday when she calls Canada her home, or we go for a few runs in the Swiss Alps. THAT would be fun.

I miss her, but while I'm out snowboarding in the mountains, she'll be 40,000ft in the air and landing in Brisbane for her first time back in Australia where she sent me a few messages from the internet cafe she used to frequent when she lived there for 11 months. Some great  memories had from that distance :)

This shot was taking at the top of the gondola looking over the back of the mountain into the next valley. I would love to live somewhere with a view like this. Maybe someday, but until then, I'll keep dreaming.

The night before Departure to Dubai

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go, I'm standing here outside your door, I hate to wake you up to say goodbye, but the dawn is breaking, it's early morning, the taxi's waiting, he's blowing his horn, allready I'm so lonesome, I could die

So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wiat for me, hold me like you never let me go, 'cause I'm leaving on a jetplane, I don't know when I'll be back again, Oh, babe, I hate to go.

There were many times I've let you down, so many times I've played around, and I tell you now, they don't mean a thing, every place I go I think of you, every song I sing I sing for you, when I'll come back I'll wear your wedding ring.

Now the time has come to leave you, one more time I let me kiss you, close your eyes and I'll be on my way, dream about the days to come when I won't have to leave alone, abour the times that I won't have to say.

So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wiat for me, hold me like you never let me go, 'cause I'm leaving on a jetplane, I don't know when I'll be back again, Oh, babe, I hate to go.

REDy for Take Off! [5/52] by Krysta

How can you describe weeks like this in one photo? Crazy, exciting, scary, emotional, nerve-wracking and a dream come true... this is the best that I could come up with. 

This week was one of the biggest milestones of my life so far, as I completed training at Emirates Aviation College and took off as a flight attendant for the very first time on a turnaround flight to Islamabad, Pakistan. Everything has been happening so fast that I haven't really had the opportunity to let it all sink in yet. As I type this, I'm about to head to the airport for my second flight, this time to Cochin, India. This is the red hat that I'm required to wear while the passengers are boarding. Initially I cringed at the thought of wearing it, but now I wear it with pride, because I'm exactly where I've always wanted to be. 

Dream a dream, and live it! I have to mention once again that I didn't get here on my own. The support of my friends, family, and of course Ryan helped me every step of the way. I'm so blessed. 

In the beginning...

The no matter the miles pillows were given as a 6 month gift from Krysta to both of us. To help remind us of each other when we're apart. And when we're together, we switch pillows, the Girl for her, the Boy for me, until we part again and switch back. It's the little reminders that make this so much easier to live on opposite sides of the world, together.

Frosty Friday in Canada [5/52] by Ryan

It's good to be home. I love the cold. I've loved it since I walked out of the airport into -13C air in t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops coming  home from Dubai. This morning I woke upto the trees covered in white from the frost. Krysta would have a hard time leaving the house when it looks like this outside, but I'm determined it's only because she's never had the experience of proper winter clothing to keep her warm!

It's nice to be back in a routine. I'm starting to organize my life. Clear out the JUNK and bring on the order! I started with a shelf in my room and removed old books and magazines, School notes, and anything else I could find a decent reason I didn't need anymore.

Next was online. Some of my friends noticed my absence on facebook as I just got fed up with EVERYTHING about it. I deactivated my account the week before going to Dubai. After realizing I was just being stubborn, I came back on because it's the best way to contact all of the people I love. BUT I didn't love all my facebook friends. Thus the great purge began. Starting with over 500 friends from middle school, high school and University, I hacked away until I reached a much more comfortable 59 friends. These friends were ACTUALLY my friends that I would hang out with or call. Too many aquaintances were filling up my friends lists. I now have only information from people I really care about! Awesome.

I still have much more to clean. Mostly throwing stuff out around the house. It's a great feeling. Freeing, really. I think my inspiration is Krysta who has next to nothing. Everything is so simple and free. She says' it's lonely without stuff sometimes, so there is a balance somewhere between her method and my method.  I should have many weeks ahead to carry out my Life-Organization.

Also in the world of Ryan. I'm back to eating healthy again. I'm still a lot stronger than I was even 4 months ago, but now it's time to down the fats/salts/sugars and up the level of activity and sleep in my life. Great Idea. Last  year I had Krysta at my side going to the gym with me and being accountable, but now she's on the other side of the world. Hopefully we can both keep up our goals and life a long and healthy life.

With this, I give you this chilly photo of frosty Christmas lights and pine needles!

The Tides are Changing [4/52] by Krysta

It occured to me today that I didn't take many photos at all this week. Fortunately, I'm doing my Project 52 from Friday-Friday, and this was taken on Saturday. Photos of tropical beaches will always be beautiful to me.

Ryan left on Monday morning. I knew in my head that I should just be thankful for the 10 days that we spent together, but I couldn't shake the feeling of heartbreak as I watched him disappear through the security gate at the airport. The goodbyes will never get easier, I'm afraid.

Fortunately, I was about to recieve good news that would boost my dampened spirits... my very first roster had been posted!! I waited anxiously for the email to load and then there it was... the moment I'd spent years dreaming of. February will see me flying to 8 countries over 4 different continents. I've also scored some amazing layovers, and I'm beyond excited to be headed back to Australia! Time to get out of the sandpit (the name that all of the expats here use to refer to Dubai) and see even more of the world... time to live the dream!